The Flint Hill Public House Restaurant & Inn is environmentally conscious.

We have taken great strides with the renovation of the property from its original structure to today’s vastly different eco-friendly “green” restaurant and country inn.  We received our Virginia Green Certification from the Commonwealth of Virginia in 2011.

Not only do local sustainable resources drive our menu, but we also have five acres to tend our own garden of herbs and vegetables. 

Energy

Indoors and out, we used renewable and sustainable products, low voltage lighting, and created a “green by design” atmosphere, with low flush toilets and reduced consumption fixtures.

Even our exterior and interior colors participate in passive heating and cooling the structure, putting the big windows on the east and west sides of the house to work (and making for some beautiful sunrises and sunsets). Both the roof and exterior structure have been coated with a special low VOC paint that exceeds requirements for exposure to the elements and environmental standards. Inside we utilized cellulose “wet” foam to fill areas between the floors and walls to help both acoustically and thermally, effectively sealing these areas in such an older building, while up in the attic we blew in low dust cellulose, further enhancing the thermal performance.

All of the kitchen appliances are new and meet or exceed Energy Star approval ratings. While the cost was more up front, such conservation will help keep our energy costs down in the future, helping us make up the price difference over time. All of the wiring has been replaced. 

Water

As water in Rappahannock County is a precious resource, we want to be a good neighbor and business by making sure we use only what we need. Restaurants can be notoriously heavy water users, so we drilled a new well and installed our own water-treatment facility (in the basement) that requires constant metering and monitoring. All of our appliances and fixtures meet the requirements for the EPA’s Water Sense designation. 

We have put considerable resources into creating our own state-of-the-art wastewater treatment facility. Indeed, it takes up much of our back yard! The system is an engineering marvel and manages the flow according to demand. By the time any wastewater hits one of our drain fields, it has undergone extensive filtration so that what comes out is sanitary and safe before being released back into the environment. However, we are mindful of what goes into the system is also important, so we adhere to using only bio-based products.

Environment

At Flint Hill Public House Restaurant & Inn, we are acutely aware of our environment. This structure has stood for more than 100 years and our goal is to make it sustainable for many hundreds more. With your help, we can lessen our collective carbon footprint as much as possible. Everything is important, from the start of your visit with us until the time you leave with your own eco-friendly biodegradable takeout container.

We want each experience to last more than just a lifetime. For the right reasons.